San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters on Thursday, after the team's seventh practice of training camp. Here is everything he had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
What is CB Deommodore Lenoir dealing with?
"Yeah, he's got some hip irritation. He'll be out these three blocks, these next three practices."
What about RB Jordan James?
Jordan James has some knee issues. We're going to re-evaluate him throughout this week. See how it goes, how he recovers and then see where we're in a week."
Both QB Brock Purdy and WR Ricky Pearsall ended last year saying that they were really eager to work with each other and develop more chemistry. I know that they worked in the offseason some, but then Pearsall had the injury. Where is that chemistry right now between those two?
"We're just still trying to get Ricky back, we're easing him in. He had one practice back or two, just eight plays. Then he got one off and then today I think he got eight plays again. So, we're easing him back in. It'll get there. We're just trying to make sure he can last throughout camp."
Do you have a timetable for WR Jauan Jennings?
"I don't have one."
I noticed QB Carter Bradley out there. What stands out to you about assistant head coach defense Gus Bradley's kid?
"We had workouts yesterday with receivers and running backs and we brought him in to throw to them and he looked so good in the workout that made us go in and watch his clips. He had 38 passes last year and we really liked what we saw in his 38 passes. So, found a way to get him here."
Do you need a fourth quarterback just to take the wear and tear off of the other guys?
"I don't think you need one. You always want one. We've got some roster issues, so we wouldn't do it unless we felt he had a legit shot. And we feel he does just watching him work out yesterday and watching his film, so that's why we made room for him."
OL Ben Bartch was back today. Is there a competition there for left guard between him and OL Nick Zakelj or is Bartch looking like the guy?
"Yeah, definitely, one that we're excited to see. Bartch got his opportunity last year, played real good versus Buffalo and he was one of the guys I was excited to evaluate those last three games of the year but he got hurt on the third play of the game the next week so we really didn't get a chance to do that. Then he hurt his quad squatting when they were away, so really excited to get him back out there today. It's given Zakelj a lot more reps, which has been good for him, but I'm excited to watch those two go at it."
What about RB Patrick Taylor Jr.? He seems to be getting quite a bit of reps with Brock and the first group. He and RB Isaac Guerendo of course.
"Yeah, I mean he's got just as good of a shot as anyone to back up Christian. I thought he did a good job with us last year. Forget how he started out, whether it was practice squad or on the team, I forget. But he ended up getting better throughout the year. He was very valuable on special teams. Came in there at the end of the year and ran the ball well for us and I think he's only gotten better this offseason."
Is Jauan's calf the same that he had in the spring?
"Yes."
DL C.J. West seems to be getting some push in individual from what we can see, but what have you assessed from him?
"I see the same in all our D-Linemen, but he's up there doing a good job. We put a lot of pressure on those guys with just lack of depth that we have there were some of the guys we lost, and he's hopped in along with [DL] Alfred [Collins] and all these guys. They're going at it each day. They've got to deal with [defensive line coach] Kris [Kocurek] all the time. It's been better to get pads on those guys so they can start working the bull rush and stuff like that more. We try not to do that when we don't have pads on and when he has a bull rush threat it can be a problem."
It looks like he's able to get really low and get some pressure.
"Yeah, that's what he does best. It starts with that and if you have to defend the bull rush all the time then it makes his moves come alive."
How much do you see his being able to be here for OTAs and minicamp help his adjustment?
"I think that stuff's huge for everyone because they have an idea of what training camp's going to be. I still think OTAs, minicamp, aren't even close to what they used to be. Especially for O-Linemen and D-Linemen. They don't really get to play football that much. But they get to do the drills, they get an idea of the technique that's going to be asked about them when we get to camp and put the pads on. It gives them a chance to prepare and I think he's prepared the right way and he's getting better doing it."
Is DL Mykel Williams pretty well advanced as a rookie?
"Yeah, I would say so. Just watching the style of how he played in college, he's just technical and stuff. I thought that jumped out on his tape the most, how good he is with his hands. A lot of pass rushers coming out of college who are talented like him and just use their talent, but he's as good with his hands as anyone I've seen coming out. And it's transferred over to practice too."
It's a lot to put CB Upton Stout at the nickel with the first team. What have you seen about him adjusting?
"We were hoping he would be capable of that when we took him. We knew that was a position that was open for us. He looked really good in OTAs and he has looked the same here in these first two weeks. Not crowning him yet, but so far he has been doing a hell of a job and hopefully he can keep getting better at it."
Do you know when Deommodore had the hip?
"It has been bothering him throughout and finally started irritating him too much on the last three. So, we've shut him down for these three."
What do you think of QB Brock Purdy's deep ball? It seems like he's been on point. He hit WR Demarcus Robinson today, he hit WR Jordan Watkins the other day. He looks pretty good on the deep ball.
"Yeah Brock, when he gets the look and it's there he rarely misses it. So, I've been happy with him. We've got a few opportunities we've come short on, but he got a real good one today and he's had a few throughout camp."
What do you guys get out of the one-on-one pass rush drills? Are you looking for technique or what importance does it hold from a coaching standpoint?
"The same as all one-on-ones, just it's able to isolate it. You can really see how a guy blocks with no help around him and you can really see how a guy's just teeing off and all he has to worry about is going to the quarterback. Then you get out there on 11-on-11 and there's a lot more scheme involved, there's a lot more other guys, knowing what play's happening and there's so much that goes into it. But you get a situation where you can just truly focus on blocking and rushing and that's the hardest time to do it for a blocker and the best time for a pass rusher. And same with one-on-ones for receivers/corners, should be the best time for a receiver and the toughest for a corner without a pass rush, but it truly can show what guys are capable of doing in their total level of talent."
WR Andy Isabella is a guy that you guys saw early on in the Draft process. What have you seen from him and his progress into now?
"I haven't seen him for a while just playing against him and think we had him at the Senior Bowl a long time ago. But always with him it started with his 40. Anytime he ran those 4.2s that sticks out, it's a different type of speed. That's what we've noticed when he ran away from us a number of times when he was at Arizona, that's what has kind of made him different. Just during the workout yesterday you could still see he had that speed and getting some speed in here is something that we thought we needed."
Going back to Brock's deep passes, is that something he's always had and he's gotten better at over the years when you worked on it with him?
"I think Brock's always had it. It's just about recognizing when it's the right look, being able to get your body into it and anticipate it and see it. Deep balls, I think, can be a tough thing when you don't anticipate it, when you don't see it right. I think the more Brock gets used to coverages, the more when to take those shots and when not to is something that's to me where he's improved."
